Marvel Universe canned?

Cryptic’s massively-multiplayer title Marvel Universe Online is on the verge of being cancelled by publisher Microsoft, a ‘source’ tells NextGen.biz.

Speculation has been rife since a 1up podcast mentioned that an anticipated Microsoft Game Studios title was soon to be canned, with internet chatter rising to a level high enough to cause official statements from Lionhead, Remedy and other developers working with MGS.

Earlier this month Cryptic sold the City of Heroes franchise to NCSoft, losing key staff such as lead designer Matt Miller, lead engineer Aaron Brady and lead artist Ken Morse to the purpose-built NCsoft studio in Mountain View, California.

If Microsoft does indeed cancel Marvel Universe, it will be the second console-based MMO that the publisher has given the chop – back on the original Xbox it also canned True Fantasy Live Online, which was being developed by Dragon Quest 8 creators Level 5.

Microsoft has said that it “won’t comment on rumours or speculation.”